Experiencing the job interview process : different perceptions by persons with physical disability and HR managers

Abstract

This research set out to achieve a deeper understanding of the experiences and perceptions of persons with disability in Malta and of human resource managers in relation to the recruitment and selection process. This specific topic has not yet been studied in Malta. A qualitative research method was used and two separate sets of interviews were conducted. The first set consisted of six persons with physical disability and the second set consisted of six HR managers in the role of recruiters. The semi-structured interviews involved questions about the job interview experiences and perceptions of job seekers with disability and those of HR managers. A comparison between the views of the participating employers and jobseekers with disability exposed various similarities and five main themes emerged. These themes included the various meanings of work for persons with disability, the importance of preparation and reasonable accommodation prior to and during a job-interview, stigma and discrimination, the lack of knowledge of disability by recruiters, and the positive support of the quota enforcement by the recruiters. This research shows how accessibility and accommodation are still lacking in Malta together with other barriers that concur with the literature from other countries on the employment and advancement of jobseekers with disability. The study concludes with a number of recommendations that may help to understand and address the perceptions of jobseekers with disability and their experience of the recruitment process in Malta. This research ends with recommendations on disability both for employers as well as for jobseekers with disability. The study also includes recommendations for a higher level of consultation by authorities regarding the quota system, and proposes stronger enforcement of reasonable accommodation and accessible adverts during the job recruitment process.